Clothes washing machine



Filed March 13, 1931 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 Robert Bruce Morrison, Detroit, Mich. Application March 13, 1931, Serial No. 522,411

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in clothes washing machines of the type having a stationary upright tub and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide means of raising the clothes 5 in a washing machine tub after they have been washed and so eliminate the necessity of probing underneath the water in reclaiming the clothes preparatory to putting them through a wringer or dryer, that is, the clothes nearer the tub 10 bottom are raised into view as fast as the upper clothes are removed from the tub and the pieces are more easily extricated from the tangled clothing also lightening the work of gettingthe pieces to the wringer or dryer; second, to eliminate the 15 usual procedure of putting the hands deep into hot water thus allowing also for the use of hotter waterin the tub. One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an 20 elevation ofv the main body of a clothes washins machine with a section cut away to show the parts. Figure -2 shows an arrangement of the parts about the drive shaft which will permit use of the invention. Figure 3' shows the end fork of lever 25 2. Figure 4 is a plan section through the vertical drive shaft and sleeves. Figure 5 is a perspective view for special washers to be used in connection with the stuffing box for sealing the tub 30 about shaft I of top part of Figure 2. Figure 6 is a plan section partly broken away taken just below the washer tub of Figure 1. Figure 'i is a fragmental section taken at the outer circumference of the agitator disc ishowing a relation that it could have with pan 8 of Figures 1 and 9;

Figure 8 is also a fragmental section taken at the outer circumference of the agitator disc but illustrating a depression in pan to receive a turnable button which could be used at necessary in- 40 tervais for the purpose of introducing or, withdrawing a projection or, lap under the bottom of the agitator disc. Figure 9 is a sectional view showing an arrangement for the supplementary bottom pan 3 in relation to an agitator disc I,

46 andwashertubbottom-II. Figure 101s sdetail of the hinged connection of lever 2 on bracket 32,

on leg I2. Figure 11 shows the connection be- .tweenparts'tandloil'igures lande.

As this invention is intended only as an imso provement adaptable to standard makes of clothes washing machines having the stationary tub and having somepower driven means for drying the clothes somewhat, I am aware that many diiferent arrangements may be used within the scope oi this invention; The illust a ions therefore (01. cit-i5 1 represent only a randompossibility of no particular make of washer.

In Figure 1, part I is a shaft the upper end of which is inside the washer tub. The parts surrounding shaft l are designed to allow the shaft 5 to be raised. At the lower end of shaft I is thrust bearing it, having opposite projecting pins I1 which engage the slots I8 in the prongs of the fork of .lever 2 which is hinged as at", Figure to'the washer frame. For this arrangement the 10 lever is connected at an intermediate point by a spring 3 to the end of a crank 4 which is a rigid part of and is hand operated by lever 5 which ratchets about the notched are 6 through the medium of catch 38, for securing lever I against 15 retrograde movement from any desired setting. When shaft I is raised by the above mechanism it necessarily forces the secondary bottom, which may be a combination of the agitator disc I and the pan 8, up from the bottom II and to a position well up in the washer tub as illustrated.

It is important that the spring 3, shall when stressed, be enough to raise readily, only the maximum capacity of wet clothes; thatis it is intended that the water, which is not held in suspension within the clothes proper, must seep through to the bottom'of the tub during the steady upwardpressure as applied by this spring or by a similar medium, rather than to attempt to raise all the water. Therefore the real function of the spring in stress, is to allow a'time interval in which the water can recede, consequently saving time and effort for the operator.

Parts 0 are tie members across the lower legs i I and if used may serve to support thrust bearing I1. laterallyand perhaps vertically.

Figure 2 is made up\of part I which is a shaft structurally free to raise vertically the desired distance through the hollow shaft l3 and the stufiing box 2i with its special shaped washers 40 II, the keyway 24 meshing with the lug on the inside circumference of the packing retaining washers II for sealing the tub about the shaft. my 24 meshes with the key is which is rigid to the hollow shaft which in turn is rigid. through as key ll, to the power driven gear is which is of the conventional pattern. Part 88 fact the conventional gear enclosure. Other parts also of this Figure 2 are dependent upon standardised practice of the various manufacturers and are not so within the scope of this invention.

Figure 3 gives an isometric view of the end of lever 2 showing the prongs with slots II for engaging pins ll projecting from the outer circumference of the endbearing Il'of shaft I. The

I Figure 2 showing shaft I with its keyway-24, and

the key 28 which is rigid to hollow shaft i 3 but which has suflicient freedom in keyway of shaft l to allow said shaft to slide freely vertically. Part I4 is the outside sleeve which is rigid to the bottom of the washer tub.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a shape for the washers for retaining the packing used in the stufllng box 2| and showing a lug on the inside circumference, a necessary feature for holding the packing which seals the keyway 26 in shaft i. The packing ring itself will have the same general shape.

Figure 8 is a plan section of Figure 1 taken just below the tub bottom I! and showing a possible relation between parts i to d inclusive, also part 30, which is a conventional spring held pin-detent or pawl. I

Figure 7 shows an arrangement which may be used between the agitator disc 1 and a supplementary bottom ring 8, for those types of washing machines which have the agitator disc near the bottom of the washer tub. The outer circumference of the agitator disc has an angular shape adjoining the inner circumference of the pan ring 8. Because the agitator rocks or oscillates horizontally, parts 1 and 8 must not be in contact except when these parts are to be raised in the tub by the mechanism described and therefore the pan 8 must rest on the tub bottom when the pan is not raised.

Figure 8 is a detail section showing a fragmental .part of the outer circumference of the a itator disc I and of the inner circumference of the pan 8, the latter to rest upon the tub bottom or side. When lowering the agitator disc to its bottom position in the washer tub the pan 8 may lag behind unless held in the same plane with said disc. I overcome this by using a button 25 turned by the fingers within a depression formed in the bottom of part 8 so that a part 26, which is connected to button 25 and to pan 8, turns a like angle to introduce a projection under the part I or to withdraw such projection as may be required. The section through part 8 as shown in Fig. 8, applies only where the fasteners 25 and 26 occur, possibly four fasteners in all.

Figure 9 shows the combined bottom which in the low agitator type of machine may be made up of parts I and 8. Parts 3| in Figure 9 are well rounded hand holds for lifting pan 8, possibly with the aid of a hinge or joint at 21 for collapsing the pan it built in parts. Parts I and 8 are apertured as at 28, to provide ready passage of the water in either direction. 7

In Figures 1, 2, and 9 it is optional whether 'stumng bok 2l-is placed at the lower end of the hollow shaft I 3, that is, outside the tub and inverted from the way I have shown, or at the upper end as shown. If placed within the tub there is the advantage that dirt and grit will not enter the keyway 24 to hamper sliding movement.

and stressing sp apropos purpose of the slots l9 being to compensate for swung to the desired setting thus raising crank 4 3 which is attached to lever 2. But lever 2 .will la behind, rising only as the bulk of the water in the tub seeps through to the space below the elevating pan 8. When the spring is released the pan will quickly drop back into place in the bottom of the tub since there will be no clothes to impede the flow of water in this direction.

I claim: I

1. A clothes washing machine comprising an upright stationary tub, a slidable shaft projecting into said tub through the bottom, an. agitator having a sleeve mounted on said shaft, a perforated discplate extending from and connected to the bottom of said sleeve, a pan in the form of a ring having a flange portion surrounding the peripheral edge of the said plate in overlapping said flange, a lever slidably connected to the shaft,

and means for moving the lever to raise said shaft, said agitator and said ring.

2. A clothes washing machine comprising an upright stationary tub, a slidable shaft projecting into said tub through the bottom, an agitator having a sleeve mounted.- on said shaft, a perforated disc plate extending from and connected to the bottom of said sleeve, a pan in the form of a ring having a flange portion surrounding the peripheral edge of the said plate in overlapping relation and spaced therefrom, and having an apertured upwardly flaring portion merging in said' flange, turnable buttons in recesses in the inner rim of said ring, latches normally overlapping the lower side of the peripheral edge of said breaking joints for collapsing said flanged ring parts.

3. A clothes washing machine comprising an .said flange, a lever slidably connected to the shaft at one end and pivotally connected at its other end to an immovable part of the tub, a crank on the tub and a contractile spring between the crank and an intermediate part of the lever.

4. A clothes washing machine comprising an upright stationary tub, a slidable shaft projectinginto said tub through thebottom, an agitator having a sleeve mounted on said shaft, a perforated disc plate-extending from and connected to the bottom of said sleeve, a pan in the form of a ring having a flange portion surrounding the peripheral edge of said plate in overlapping relation and spaced therefrom, and having an apertured upwardly flaring portion merging in said flange,

a sleeve surrounding the slidable shaft, a slidable keyway engaging shaft and keyway against relative oscillation, a mechanical connection for power drive to the agitator on said sleeve, a ring and keyway packing ring on said 'shaft, ring and keyway washers adjoining said packing ring, a

compression cap encircling said shaft on said sleeve.

- ROBERT-BRUCE MORRISON. 

